Calla Lily in Colors

I always think of  Calla Lilies as being white but there are several different colors these days. This bright yellow one is blooming in my garden now and I know I have a mauve one out there too, but it isn't blooming yet. This is one of the flowers I remember from my childhood... but only the white ones.

Calla Lilies and Easter Lilies go together in my memories. Just the smell of them takes me back to when I was a kid. The Calla Lily was my Aunt Ella's favorite flower and old pictures show they were in her wedding bouquet. She has passed on now, but when I smell lilies I think of  her wonderful laugh and smile. She lives on in her two daughters who are very special cousins to me.

My folks grew Easter Lilies in northern California along with family members when I was about 4  I was too young to go to school with the rest of the kids and since there was no such thing as Day Care, Pre-School or Kindergarten back then,  I would hang out in the shed where the bulbs were sorted. The bulbs were dug from the ground by the men and dumped on big tables. Long boards with holes which increased in size were used to measured each bulb and put it into the appropriate box. It was always exciting to find really large ones as they brought the best price. I remember tons of  those bulbs being dug from the ground and sorted and packed. The boxes would stack up around us as the day went on. I'm sure I wasn't much help but I was always there with my Mom, Aunt Ella and Grandma Berg.

The smell of lilies takes me right back to the bulb shed!

Ten Lined June Beetle

 

We found this critter out in the walkway. He is about two inches long and does have ten strips counting the ones on this head.  He is rather prehistoric and scary looking up close and yes, he did hiss at me! 

Have Helmet, Have Goggles, Will Ride

 

We stopped at the strawberry stand to get fresh berries and saw this cool doggie at the gas station next door. The Springer Spaniel and his master were on a motorcycle road trip. It seems he has only owned the dog for a short time, but they are always together and the dog instantly took to the ride-a-long life style

I've seldom seen such a cool, calm and collected dog. There was no wiggling and "let me out of here" activity. No sniffing or begging for treats. No sign of, "stay away from me... this is my space" behavior. Just one cool dude. Happy trails to them! 

Hearst Castle

 

Hearst Castle is located about an hour and 20 minutes north of us on Highway 1. We have gone to the Castle many times and taken most of the tours. But this time was special.

 

We went to a private showing of a CA State Park movie that will be aired on PBS this fall.

 

The movie and reception was good but the spring evening just before sunset was spectular! There was not a whisper of a breeze, you didn't even need a jacket. Very unusual up there. I guess Mr. Hearst knew what he was doing when he chose this setting to build a castle.

 

What's For Lunch

As we were leaving the house today, we watched two Red Shouldered Hawks catch and devour their lunch. They were in an open field and one right after the other, they swooped down and scooped up what looked to be good sized gophers.

 

Although they saw us watching them, they were much more interested in filling up on their tasty meal and made no move to fly away. Sorry gophers, this was not your lucky day.

 

That's how nature works... out here in the rural countryside of Arroyo Grande,

Lizzy Lizard

 

I LOVE this watercolor my daughter did. She is such a special and wonderful lady in so many ways. And then to top it off, she is a gifted artist!

I love you my darling daughter, just because you are you.

The Spotted Towhee

 

This Spotted Towhee comes quite regularly to eat underneath the bird feeders. They hunt for the seeds and cracked corn that the other birds kick out of the feeders and into the grass.

 

They are so much brighter than their cousin the California Towhee, which is a rather drab brown. Doesn't seem quite fair! All the Towhees love to eat on the ground and are quite tame and unafraid.

We love our wild bird friends.